Open Letter to Ontario Coroner Dr. David Cameron

Dear Dr. Cameron and Counsel,

I wish to thank you and the entire Inquest team for your hard work on behalf of Samuel Brown. I also wish to thank the Canadian reporters for their generosity and professionalism; and the messages of support pouring in from across the country. Samuel was a beloved Canadian teenager born and raised in Ontario and cherished for his ability to bring out the gentler and kinder leanings in people. He had a bright future ahead of him before it was cut tragically short. Even in his death, he continues to bring out this side in people and professionals. It’s the reason why elected officials on all sides put aside differences for Samuel Brown and it’s the reason why even the busiest of persons stop business as usual to return a call about Samuel Brown. It’s the reason we have learned that the entire Inquest Team is on the same page and united to see through a successful inquest for Samuel Brown with a complete absence of the cynicism that can accompany inquests.

I genuinely believe that you are the right professional for this role and that you’re not only a coroner but a Canadian leader with a de facto therapeutic role to lead a community in crisis to a place of closure and respect. I also want to thank you for returning calls made to your office. You have earned a reputation of personally returning calls and not passing the buck. I have a great admiration for that practice.

Inquests across Canada frequently transpire anywhere from church basements to community gymnasiums to hotels. I want you to know our volunteer-run organization has canvassed and already booked viewing rooms in various hotels across the province for this inquest- now deferred. The Marriot Hotel, the Sheraton Hotel and Cambridge Suites all have availability. It takes 5 minutes to book a space. It takes another 5 minutes to set up a zoom link. Samuel deserves closure and has been waiting for years for this day. Perhaps less importantly, flights and hotels were already booked for November 15, 2021. It is not too late for flight holders to change flights and hotel accommodations without penalty but time is running out.

I also understand the Log Book which documents what staff observed the night of Samuel’s death has not been released and we echo the request for its release for reasons readily apparent.

The inquest is here to serve the public and the community you serve is in crisis right now. The absence of dates is inherently destabilizing. We have faith that you will provide the leadership Ontario needs while ensuring Samuel Brown’s family is always treated with respect and compassion throughout their unspeakable ordeal.

Thank you,

Kinzi Ahmed, (Hons.) B.A., University of Toronto

Friends of Samuel Brown Network — Durham Regional Chair

Justice for Samuel Brown Initiative — Digital Home of the Friends of Samuel Brown Network

(Twitter Handle: @justiceforsamu3)

cc:

Dr. Elizabeth Sheehy, University of Ottawa Faculty of Law

Dr. Suzanne Bouclin, University of Ottawa Faculty of Law

Executive Director, ARCH Disability Law Centre

Executive Director, Justice for Children and Youth

Kurt Goddard, Inclusion Canada

Patrick Brown, Mayor of the City of Brampton

Suzan Fraser, Author — Beginners’ Guide to Inquests

Atrisha Lewis, Partner, McCarthy Tetrault LLP

Dr. Tanya Titchkosky, University of Toronto, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

Michelle McQuigge, Canadian Press Jason Miller, Toronto Star

Vincent Ball, The Brantford Expositor

Samantha Craggs, CBC Hamilton

Meagan Gillmore, Freelance press

Royson James, Toronto Star

Saron Gebresellassi, Saron Professional Corporation